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I've spent 5 days in RP and only seen, and only ate 2 squirrels. I've walked nearly the whole land, hunting from dawn to dusk. 2 squirrels? Are there none left? Starting to feel the long island public hunting BS. Not only are the areas so small and overcrowded, there's no game! You got dogs getting all the pheasants, people shooting at trash cans, and a hazardous waste in the middle of it!? Wtf is going on here. Sure I spooked some deer, a hundred yards from me... But the rest of the woods is dead. Any ideas? Should I get out of RP and try OP or Sarn for small game? Don't make me save my hunting license money next year. Oh how I miss Florida now.

New to Long Island Public Hunting. I've been driving around the public areas closest to me and having trouble finding Oaks! The woods are dominated by Pines (Pine Barrens duh!). Can any of you nice folks help me get me one step ahead of my search for which Public Area to pursue comfortably for the start of Small Game Season? It will drastically cut down on my unsuccessful hunts marching through the wrong areas. This can happen in PMs certainly. I'll be hunting Small Game (Squirrels, Rabbits, Pheasant, maybe Turkey). So I'd like to stay away from the archery deer hunters for courtesy. My public land conists of RP, OP, Sarn, WH. I also drive a car so no soft offroad parking spots. Here's some of my questions/concerns: 1. Will I be disrespected going to RP or OP as a small game hunter? The whole official Check-In process makes me a little nervous. Do you request your spot, or do they give you one? I see so many archery hunters filling the parking spots, there's also some Off-road Parking. The area seems dominantly Pines. Would you recommend RP or OP for Small Game Hunting? Can you recommend a location within an area, with dominated woodland oaks that can get me on some squirrels? I see few opportunities for dense oaks from Google Earth. 2. Perhaps Sarn/WH is better for a Small Game Hunter? No Check-In, so you just park and claim your spot? Sarnoff is a lot of Pine Barrens too. Where's the Oaks? Thanks!

Hello fellow LI Hunters, I see there is no active online community for Long Island Hunters, if you know of one please tell me! This post may help like minded googlers find their way. I'm Shaun, I'm 30, and I live in Suffolk and I'm a beginner to intermediate experienced small game public land hunter. Before I came to NY, I was hunting Small Game and Wild Hogs in Florida and we had a very active public land community that got together for hunts or just became online hunter friends who shared their experiences. I hunted for Shotgun Deer a few times but no luck so I'm a real newbie Deer hunter and I only have a crossbow so Archery's out for me right now. I guess I'm just looking to meet some people, either here online or IRL if we fancy one another's company. I'm a lonely hunter as I lost my mentor when I was very young. So I'm a research hound - I'm a techie guy and I learn everything I can from hunting shows, magazines, books, online communities and friends, youtube, google earth, etc. So this'll be my first year hunting in Suffolk Public Land, primarily for Small Game - Squirrels, Rabbits, Woodcock, Pheasant, possibly Turkey. I'd love to hook up with some folks to show me some Waterfowl or Geese Hunting, or even Deer or introduce me to Archery. As I'm new to the lands anyone looking for a buddy to explore and learn some woods with would be cool. I also know the deal with Small Game guys and Archery guys preferring to hunt apart, so I hope not to step on any toes and hope the check station would distribute parking spots accordingly. I'm not new on Public Land, just here on Long Island :). If you have anything you'd like to chime in with feel free or send me a PM! Thanks for reading!

Hello all, My buddy and I are midshipmen at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, Long Island. We're both avid duck hunters back home (Louisiana, Florida), but we would like to do some hunting this season up here in Long Island while we're at school. We're looking for any information on good places to hunt on the island, we don't mind driving, or anyone that's willing to allow us to tag along for a hunt. We have our licenses, guns, camo, and a few dozen decoys up here with us. Heard Suffolk County runs some public land with duck blinds, anyone have experience with that? Thanks for any information.

Hi everyone... Originally from Northern NY, relocated to Nassau County with a camp on Black Lake near Hammond, NY. I'm a deer hunter, ice fisherman and summertime griller with either venison or fish grilling with the best rubs and jerk to make meat come alive. I process my own deer, making steaks for jerking to sausages of all kind. Ever in the neighborhood, come on in and have a beer, check out my 10 point scoring 141 7/8 in 2003.

Hi - happy to be a member here! I live out in Montauk on Long Island and grew up an avid fisherman. Over the past few years, I've really gotten the hunting bug, and have been doing all that I can to get out in the woods/blind. Joined to try and learn as much as possible! Happy hunting, Rob

The South Shore Waterfowlers Assoc. on Long Island will be having the 34th annual Duckboat Show & Waterfowl Festival Sunday October 26th, 2014 at Cedar Beach in Babylon 8am-3pm Information can be found at www.sswa.org

Town of North Haven NY. Cost of snipers for deer cull 15,000$. Deer taken estimated 22. Goal achieved? https://www.27east.com/news/article.cfm/Sag-Harbor/56448/North-Haven-Appears-To-Have-Completed-Its-Deer-Cull Estimated cost of deer Post program 240,000$-250,000 a year to reduce ticks. (Under deer summary.) http://northhavenny.us/deermanagement.htm At least they are seeking ways to get permission from land owners and more hunters. So it seems, think I will inquire. The 150 foot rule would help. Access is usually an issue, if the town goes knocking on doors and explains the situation it could help with approval and access if done properly. Estimated cost with sniper and post program 255,000$ - 265,000$ a year. Some good bow hunters could keep the population at recommended levels at a much better cost with better results. This area is less than 3 square miles. Thoughts

I wanted to know if any of you guys have ever had any luck getting a deer tag for long island shotgun season even if you missed the registration back in september on the DEC site. I assume no, but I was talking to a guy when I was recently fishing in montauk and he said something along the lines of ny dec happy to provide tags for long island because numbers are too high? is that total BS? Thanks guys

Finally after countless pics of small bucks this guys showed up 3 days ago. Cant wait to meet him!

Long Island Youth Waterfowl Program http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/93612.html For Release: Wednesday, October 2, 2013 DEC Announces 16th Annual Youth Waterfowl Program Instructional Class and Youth Waterfowl Days Set for Nov. 2, 9 & 10 The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is holding its 16th Annual Youth Waterfowl Program, open to young hunters on Long Island ages 12 to 15, on November 2 and November 9 - 10, Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. The program is a collaboration with the New York Conservation Officers Association; Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation; Shikar Safari Club International; Ducks Unlimited; and South Shore Waterfowlers Association. The Youth Waterfowl Program, an instructional course, is set for November 2. Youth Waterfowl Days, which are specially designated hunting days, are set for November 9 - 10. The Youth Waterfowl Program is a special event to help junior hunters prepare for and participate in the Youth Waterfowl Days. The program includes instruction in: Hunting ethics and regulations Waterfowl identification Firearms safety review Retriever and decoy use Cold water survival and boating safety Trap shooting Certified sportsman education instructors, as well as DEC environmental conservation officers (ECOs), will guide participants through the program and help youth hunters become part of the long tradition of waterfowl hunting on Long Island. All new applicants must attend an instructional day at Hubbard County Park in Flanders on November 2 which will qualify them for the option of hunting at Hubbard County Park in Flanders or Southaven County Park in Yaphank on November 9 and anywhere hunting is allowed on November 10. Participants must be 12 to 15 years of age by November 9, have completed a hunter education course by November 2, possess a junior (small game) hunting license by November 9 and be registered with the Harvest Information Program (HIP). For further information regarding the Youth Waterfowl Program or to sign up for the November 2 instructional class, please contact DEC Region 1 Sportsman Education Program at (631) 444-0255 or e-mail [email protected]. For more information on the Youth Waterfowl hunt, visit the DEC website . Applications for the Youth Waterfowl Program are due by Oct. 11. About Youth Waterfowl Days: Each year, two days are set outside the regular duck hunting season in each waterfowl zone to allow any junior hunter to hunt ducks and geese. On these Youth Waterfowl Days, junior hunters (ages 12 to 15) must be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter. Adults cannot hunt during these two days. The 16th Annual Youth Waterfowl Program is a part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's NY Open for Hunting and Fishing Initiative; an effort to improve recreational activities for in-state and out-of-state sportsmen and sportswomen and to boost tourism opportunities throughout the state. Under this initiative, New York is streamlining the purchase of hunting and fishing licensing and reducing license fees, improving fishing access at various sites across the state, stocking as much as 900,000 pounds of fish, expanding fishing clinics and increasing hunting opportunities in various regions. The reduced fees become effective February 1, 2014.

Tuesday morning 11/6/12 was a frosty one. I actually forgot to set my alarm the night before and my wife wakes me up at 5:30 am. CRAP! OVERSLEPT! I take a quick shower, run out there and get settled in by 6:20. By 7:30 I hear something walking behind me. I take a look over my shoulder and see this massive buck walking downwind of me 25 yards! I didnt have my bow in my hand yet so all I could do was watch him. He walked in and hit the scent cone of the estrous and locked up. Standing there for an eternity licking his lips and sniffing, he started walking away. I let out a doe bleat, nothing. I grunted and he turned and looked but kept walking away. Then I snort wheezed at him and he turned slightly and stood there forever. Then he did a disappearing act. I thought he was gone. I was glassing the area all over and couldnt see him. I then began to rattle and grunt aggressive. Nothing. An hour passes and I look over to where he disappeared and I watch him get up! He was laying there 50 yards the whole time! He made his way back down the same trail he came in on and i knew id have one small lane to thread the needle through. When he walked through I "mah'd" and he stopped about 23 yards away right where i needed him to. I hit him right in the shoulder with a spitfire maxx and it stuck in the offside shoulder. He ran about 80 yards and crashed. I put an arrow through this buck last season high in the shoulder and never found him. This buck was killed in Suffolk county, Long Island on private land. We rough scored him at 135 and he weighed 155 dressed. Im waiting on the age. I got it all on video. Life is good.

Hi Guys, I am a new hunter, and this is my first season. I skipped the bow hunting as I didn't have enough practice, and didn't want to risk it. Looking forward for the Gun Season on Suffolk. Any suggestion on where to shoot. I know there is Otis Pike Preserve and Rocky Point but never been those places and don't have much idea about how to hunt. If get a companion that would be a great help. Let me know your suggestion, and how can I join someone and an apprentice.

Bow Hunter and Hunter Safety Courses for Children 12 – 16 years-old Will Be Offered Two separate two- day hands on programs on bow hunter safety and hunting safety will be offered in March and April by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Sportsman Education unit. The Bow Hunter Safety Course will be offered on March 17 and 18 and the Hunter Safety Course will be offered on April 14 and 15 at the Peconic River Sportsman’s Club in Manorville. Both events are being sponsored by the DEC’s Sportsman Education unit, the New York State Conservation Officers Association and the Peconic River Sportsman’s Club. “Hunting and fishing are an important part of Long Island’s heritage, and we are very fortunate that our region offers a multitude of diverse and rewarding recreational opportunities,” DEC Region One Director Peter A. Scully said. “DEC applauds our local sportsmen and women, the Conservation Officers Association and the Peconic River Sportsman’s Club for their tireless work towards the protection of our environment and natural resources. The 2012 Youth Conservation Program is the perfect way to introduce children to hunting ethics and to teach them how to be responsible hunters.” Each class is limited to 40 participants and selections are made by a panel that reviews a 75-word application. Participants who successfully complete the program will receive their Hunter Education Training Certificate or Bow Hunter Education Training Certificate. These certificates are required in order to purchase a hunting license. Enrollment in the class is open to all boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 16 who have not yet taken either their Hunter Education or Bow Hunter Education course. For more information or to register for one or both of these sessions, contact the NYS DEC Sportsman Education Office at (631) 444-0255. A link to the application for these programs can be found at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/956.html. This post has been promoted to an article